from the urls-we-dig-up dept

The phenomenon of superconductivity could be extremely useful -- if the materials that exhibit the behavior could do so at ambient conditions. The first material discovered to conduct electricity with no resistance was mercury in 1911, but mercury requires temperatures below 10 °K to do this. In 1986, a high temperature superconductor was found that seemed to work around liquid nitrogen temperatures. We've made some progress pushing the limits of the superconductors we've made so far, and it looks like we may be on the cusp of a much better understanding these materials and how they work. Here are just a few links on the matter.

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Until quantum levitation and room temperature superconductors are a practical reality, we're still without hoverboards and flying cars. The future has promised everyone some kind of hovering transportation, but we'll just have to be patient and wait for the technology to be refined and made economical, right? Here are just a few hopeful links to getting your hovering fix sooner rather than later.

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Human history was once defined by advances in materials, going from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age to the Age of Steel. Material science could still revolutionize society, but the advances would have to be much more impressive -- like creating a room-temperature superconductor (or transparent aluminum). Here are just a few curious developments in the field of material science.

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Alcoholic beverages have been part of human culture for thousands of years. But what do we really know about these drinks? Red wine goes with red meats, and white wine goes with fish... Liquor before beer, you're in the clear... Here are just a few more interesting tidbits of information regarding ethyl alcohol.